Independent: Villa were lucky not to be two goals behind within six minutes of the restart. Downing, who had already forced O'Neill to take Craig Gardner out of the firing line at right-back, sped past his replacement, Olof Mellberg, and squared the ball invitingly for Mido, who should have scored but lifted the ball over the bar. Instead, Villa were given a lifeline when referee Steve Bennett ruled against Luke Young as the Boro player turned and spread himself to block Ashley Young's shot with 17 minutes left. If the ball struck Young's hand it was accidental. Barry duly sent Mark Schwarzer the wrong way from the spot.

Star: No team in the Premier League has come from behind more often than Aston Villa this season - but Martin O'Neill could have done without having to prove his team's fighting spirit yet again last night. With 22 minutes gone, that's exactly what was facing the hosts as Middlesbrough bounced back from Sunday's FA Cup horror show. But Villa were able to retain their crown as comeback kings as Gareth Barry drew them level in the 72nd minute from the penalty spot.

Telegraph: Aston Villa were blown off course at windswept Villa Park, last night's stalemate leaving them seven points behind Everton and Liverpool in the fight for fourth place. Martin O'Neill's side found Middlesbrough vastly improved from their FA Cup defeat to Cardiff, trailing to Stewart Downing's goal until Gareth Barry levelled from a late penalty. Only 17 minutes remained when referee Steve Bennett pointed to the spot after Ashley Young's cross-cum-shot hit the back of Luke Young's shoulder as the full-back threw himself in its path. Barry stroked the ball down the centre to give Villa a point they scarcely deserved.

Sun: Villa boss Martin O'Neill was also deeply unhappy at his players' performance. He admitted: "It's a bit of a set-back. A point is not enough but we didn't deserve any more. "This was an opportunity to stick with the bunch and we did not take it. "The players must be more inventive and play better under pressure if European football is to be achieved."

Sun: VILLA: Carson 7, Gardner 5 (Mellberg 5), Laursen 6, Knight 5, Bouma 6, Maloney 5 (Harewood 6), Reo-Coker 6, Barry 6, Young 6, Carew 5, Agbonlahor 5. Subs not used: Taylor, Salifou, Osbourne.

Guardian: Aston Villa may have bemoaned the FA Cup upsets that have done much to undermine their chances of qualifying for Europe but last night Martin O'Neill's side did little to help themselves. An uncharacteristically lacklustre display against a Middlesbrough team playing with all the passion and character that had been so glaringly absent against Cardiff would have culminated in defeat but for Steve Bennett's harsh decision to award a penalty in the closing stages. Daily Mail: Before Bennett's intervention, Villa were huffing and puffing, their inspiration having deserted them as they slipped seven points behind Liverpool and Everton, their rivals for a European place. O'Neill was realistic about his side' performance. He said: 'I won't hide the fact that we didn't play very well. I was disappointed with the first half. 'We never put Middlesbrough under any pressure. If we are going for Europe, we have to be winning matches. 'A point isn't enough. But we didn't deserve any more.'

Times: O'Neill was disconsolate afterwards. "We have to play better under pressure if European football is to be achieved," the Villa manager said.The wonderful craziness of this season's FA Cup has reduced the prospect of Aston Villa qualifying for the Uefa Cup but Middlesbrough, one of the fall guys of last weekend's quarter-final shocks, responded to their humbling by Cardiff City with a courageous performance that would have brought all three points had it not been for a dubious penalty decision. Gareth Southgate, the Middlesbrough manager, was understandably left fuming by Steve Bennett's judgment, which allowed Gareth Barry to equalise midway through the second half after Luke Young was adjudged to have handled Ashley Young's shot despite the defender facing the other way. It was a point, however, that should go towards safeguarding Middlesbrough's status in the Barclays Premier League.

Times: Martin O'Neill has explained why he is prepared to enter the Intertoto Cup this summer if the club fail to qualify for the Uefa Cup. "Had England been involved in Euro 2008, I might have decided not to put our name forward," the manager said.

Sporting Life: Villa manager Martin O'Neill was at a loss to explain his team's inept performance after they had performed so well at Arsenal in the previous game. He said: "We didn't play well. We played very poorly and it was particularly disappointing in the first half. If was 40 minutes before we had a shot on goal. "I felt beforehand we were ready for the game but things never materialised for us. While there was some improvement in the second half, we did not put Middlesbrough under enough pressure all evening. "We didn't create enough and that was the biggest disappointment. I am very disappointed, this was an opportunity to stay with the bunch and we didn't take it. "We were very flat and we stayed flat for so long. And normally we can pull ourselves around and anyone who saw us play at Arsenal would not believe this was the same side basically. "Middlesbrough played very well and caused us plenty of problems but if we are going to be contesting this, we have to win games when we are not playing at our best."

Sky Sports: Gareth Barry's controversial penalty earned Aston Villa a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough. Barry struck 16 minutes from time to cancel out Stewart Downing's fine first-half opener. The penalty award was harsh on Boro with referee Steve Bennett adjudging that Luke Young had handled Ashley Young's shot inside the box even though the ball appeared to strike his elbow as Young turned his back on the ball. The draw dents Villa's bid to qualify for Europe as they remain in sixth, while, Boro's performance was the perfect response to their shock FA Cup exit to Cardiff at the weekend. Southgate was given the perfect reponse by his players to that shock cup reversal and Boro could have wrapped the game up with steadier finishing before the Barry spot-kick.

Irish Independent: Aston Villa's hopes of securing a European spot suffered a major dent despite skipper Gareth Barry rescuing a point with a controversial penalty against Gareth Southgate's side. The England midfielder levelled from the spot with 17 minutes remaining after 'Boro defender Luke Young was harshly ruled to have handled a volley from Villa winger Ashley Young. Stewart Downing had given the visitors a deserved half-time lead with his seventh goal of the season as the visitors regained their pride after the FA Cup debacle against Cardiff at the weekend. Southgate was given the perfect response by his players to that shock cup reversal and 'Boro could have wrapped the game up with steadier finishing before the Barry spot-kick.